Ambidexterity in micro and small firms: Can competitive intelligence compensate for size constraints?

Ambidexterity has been linked to firm structures that are typical of organizations with a larger size. However, further research is needed to analyze whether the effect of firm size on ambidexterity is contingent on other aspects. We argue that micro and small firms that have developed some competitive intelligence routines (CIRs) may foster ambidextrous behavior and compensate for the limitations arising from a smaller size and lack of resources. We test our proposal on a sample of 200 firms in the furniture sector. Our results show that CIRs compensate for size constraints in that size is no longer a relevant variable to increase ambidextrous behavior in firms that achieve higher levels in these routines. Our results provide new and important insights into how ambidexterity may be fostered in small firms that lack resource slack or the ability to use separate units to develop knowledge exploration and exploitation activities. JEL CLASSIFICATION: M10, M21, O3

Clinical, imaginological and pathological aspects of umbilical panvasculitis in calves: case report

The diagnosis of umbilical infections in neonates can be obtained from clinical signs, but the intracavitary involvement of structures and associated complications can be underestimated, compromising the establishment of adequate therapeutic approaches or prognosis. This case report presents the clinical, imaging, pathological and microbiological aspects of an umbilical infection in calves. Physical examination of the animal identified apathy, low body score, increased volume in the umbilical region and joints. The abdominal palpation identified firm structures in topography of the arteries and umbilical vein. Imaging examinations of the abdomen and joints were performed. Multiple, hyperechogenic focal structures have been identified in the liver, as well as cylindrical and firm structures in topography of the arteries and umbilical vein. In the joints, osteolytic changes, periosteal reactions, subchondral sclerosis and formation of osteophytes were seen. Umbilical panvasculitis triggered arthritis and an infectious process in the liver, the case being assessed as having an unfavorable prognosis and the animal being referred for euthanasia. At necropsy, multifocal abscesses were observed in the pleura, ribs, omentum, spleen and liver. There was granulomatous exudate in the urinary vesicle. The affected joints presented thickening of the joint capsule with the presence of exudate. In the microbiological analysis of liver fragments, urinary vesicle content and joint exudate, Proteus mirabilis with resistance to antimicrobials was identified. Imaging studies collaborated with the establishment of the prognosis and conduct adopted, and must, whenever possible, be included in the clinical examination. In case of death, necropsy allows a correct association of clinical signs and imaging findings.

An Organizational History of the U.S. Patent System

This chapter presents a novel organizational history of the U.S. patent system during 1890–2006. Based on a division of U.S. patent history into two strong-patent/weak-antitrust periods (1890 to mid-1930s and 1980s to 2006) and one weak-patent/strong-antitrust period (late 1930s to 1970s), it describes evidence relating to concurrent changes in the mix of organizational forms used to structure the innovation and commercialization process. Both strong-IP periods are characterized by substantially disaggregated supply chains in which innovators enter into financing, licensing, and other contractual relationships with third parties to execute the commercialization process. By contrast, the weak-IP regime that prevailed during the postwar decades principally supported innovation by large integrated firms, often supplemented by extensive government funding. Historical organizational trends support the hypothesis that weak-IP regimes shift innovation and commercialization activities toward integrated firm structures, while strong-IP regimes sustain organizationally diverse innovation ecosystems that support a range of integrated and disintegrated structures.

Understanding New Trend in Business: Inter-Firm Cooperative Alliance Between Competing Organizations

Traditional economics-based framework suggests that firm cooperates with competitors to increase its market power or efficiency in transaction for the maximization of its self-interest profit. However, nowadays growing numbers of firm engage in alliance with competitors for non-economic purpose. This paper seeks to understand the nature of inter-firm alliance between direct competitors by discussing several critical issues regarding it. The issues are chosen by the criterion that useful perspectives from either organization theory or strategic management can be applied to this phenomenon so that scholars are encouraged and can be easier to do a research on this topic in the future. In this regard, I seek to answer the question of why firm cooperates with competitor by comparatively adopting four novel approaches, which, combined together, provide an excellent complementary view to the traditional economics-based approach. Also, by understanding the distinctive feature of decision-making process when firm conduct a collaboration with competitor this study provides a practical insight on how firm structures, manages, and makes a decision when it cooperates with competitors. Overall, several conceptual ideas suggested by this paper can be an interesting starting point for the future empirical research.

Political Connections and Stock Price Crash Risk: Empirical Evidence from the Fall of Suharto

This study examines the relationship between firm-level political connections and stock price crash risk in Indonesia. It employs the difference-in-difference design to deal with the self-selection bias issue regarding the choice of the firms to become a politically connected firm. We use the sudden resignation of the former President of Indonesia, Suharto, to show that politically connected firms are associated with lower stock price crash risk and that the risk for these politically connected firms increased after Suharto resigned. Furthermore, we found evidence that these negative associations are more pronounced in firms with more complex firm structures.

Institutional influences on firm strategy in authoritarian emerging economies

Purpose This is one of the first studies to investigate the influences of institutions in an authoritarian regime on the strategies of firms that operate in a potentially sensitive industry. The purpose of this paper is to examine how institutional pressures affect the strategies of multi-platform mass media companies (print, broadcast and internet) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Design/methodology/approach This qualitative study used a purposive sampling strategy to conduct interviews with 28 senior managers who have responsibility for strategic level decision making in a UAE media company. All of the interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. A mainly deductive process of thematic analysis was undertaken to identify key ideas, patterns and relationships in the data. Findings The survey participants reported that increased multi-platform delivery in the media industry brings rewards, challenges and new risks. Although the normative and cultural-cognitive pressures are both strong in the UAE, it is the regulative pressures that seem to have the largest constraining influence on firm decision making and business strategies. The strong institutional pressures existing in the UAE encourage tight coupling, where firm structures and processes are linked and designed in response to the institutional constraints. Evidence was found only of some minor decoupling. Originality/value In response to the authors’ findings, the authors hypothesise that in nations under authoritarian rule, political pressures will likely override all other institutional pressures and that it will be most sensible for firms to adopt tight coupling strategies. However, the success of many UAE firms both at home and internationally suggests that strong institutional constraints do not necessarily act as a barrier to superior firm performance.

Gans, Eduard (1797–1839)

Gans was an influential legal theorist and an admirer of Hegel’s doctrines regarding the nature and purposes of political institutions. He attempted to extend the role of those doctrines to the practical reform of German legal theory. Gans criticized this theory as being neither universal nor in accord with natural human rights. One of the most evident expressions of this partiality of the law was to be found in the legal disregard of the natural civil rights of Jewish citizens. Gans looked to the past, to Roman law, with its universal applications and its firm structures based upon natural rights, as a model upon which a future German legal system could be constructed.

Taxation and the Peer-to-Peer Economy

The growth of the peer-to-peer (P2P) economy over the last decade has captivated both stock markets and policymakers alike. While the means for transacting might be different to existing firm structures—with the emergence of digital platforms that connect individual buyers and sellers directly—the tax behavior of individuals operating in this new economy are very familiar. What is clear is that while the P2P economy has potentially exacerbated existing policy, administrative, and revenue-mobilization challenges associated with small business taxation—such as the choice of the tax base and how to set tax thresholds—, the technology behind P2P platforms presents a valuable opportunity to eventually solve them.

Survey evidence of members’ willingness to invest in agricultural hybrid cooperatives

Agricultural producer organisations face tight competition in global food and agricultural markets. The opportunities for cooperatives to acquire growth capital are restricted to member contributions, which poses a financial handicap in competition against investor-owned firms. Innovative cooperative structures have emerged as a response to the competitive pressures. For many, gaining access to growth capital from investors has been the reason for departing from the traditional cooperative organisational structure. This study examined whether farmers, as members and owners of agricultural producer cooperatives, are willing to invest in cooperative growth. By using the members of two large Finnish meat producer cooperatives as a sample we were able to utilise the variability in investor-owned firm structures, in which the members have both direct and indirect ownership in two layers of the agricultural producer organisation. A questionnaire study was conducted, including a contingent rating task in which farmers stated the point in the hybrid organisation chain at which they preferred to invest. The results indicated that the majority of farmers were willing to invest and the tendency increased with farm size. The average investment sum is considerable relative to the current capital contribution of an average member. The most preferred form was traditional cooperative capital, while a comparison of investment alternatives suggested that farmers are not yet receptive to new transferable cooperative shares. Retaining control appears important to producers. Farmer commitment erodes when the firm is in financial difficulties. Less member capital is available to save the firm from a cash crisis compared to a scenario of investments improving competitiveness.